Life as I know It

Sunday, September 30, 2007

The village of Damariscotta is our home town. I am always amazed by the number of activities going on here through all the seasons. We have great art galleries, shops, and the fabulous Maine Coast Book Shop & Cafe with a cadre of well-read staff who help me whenever I need a good read. We have a medley of restaurant choices, a theatre, a fish store, gourmet shops, a real old-fashioned pharmacy with a soda fountain, and people who care about you.

Monday, September 24, 2007

The Damariscotta River's Pemaquid oyster beds are farm raised and considered some of the best tasting in the world. To celebrate our valuable crop and to benefit the Edward A. Myers Marine Conservation Fund and our working waterfront the community throws an annual fundraising event that that shouldn't be missed.

I was one of the "celebrity oyster shuckers" and failed miserably at my duties. Not enough strength to do the job, but I “Tom Sawyered” a visitor (photo) into shucking some of them, and then my husband Jeff (not pictured) stepped in and finished my job. I kept all ten fingers.

After the festival we trekked down Main St. to The Damariscotta River Grill to watch the judging of the Pickle Contest. After the judges sampled the 25 entries we tasted each one!

Our Harvest Festival is a hoot! Instead of a boat regatta, we have a pumpkin regatta. Brave souls climb into hollowed out giant pumpkins and paddle the icy river water for their lives. Some of them end up in cold water.(Photos courtesy of Bernie Delisle, Darling & Delisle, Studio Jewelry & Assessories.)

Main Street is lined with more giants, but they're carved, embellished, and sculpted into fantastic works of art.

Saturday, September 1, 2007

Our organic groceries and breads arrive each Friday morning in summer at exactly 9 A.M. Long before I see David Berry's Long Island Sound oyster boat glide into Christmas Cove I hear him ringing the old brass school bell that once belonged to his Grandmother. David and his beautiful wife Allison (pictured above) keep the boat loaded with jams and jellies, chutneys and salsas, breads, exquisite vegetables, fruits, and cheeses.

Friday mornings at the dock are a time for all the neighbors to catch up on the island's happenings. Sometimes Milo rides along with David and plays his violin at each landing.

From my tiny studio I watch the windjammers silently sail down John's Bay to the sea. I've dreamed of sailing on one of the week long cruises out of Camden, Maine. Imagine anchoring in a small cove and dining under the stars as you're rocked gently by the tides.